The Village Idiom

brush by

The idiom brush by means to pass close to someone or something without touching or stopping.

Filed under B

In a sentence

  • As I was walking through the crowded street, I felt someone brush by me.
  • The car brushed by the cyclist, narrowly avoiding a collision.
  • She brushed by the team of reporters without stopping to answer any questions.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom "brush off" is a commonly used phrase that is related to "brush by" in the sense that both idioms involve avoiding or dismissing something. When someone brushes off something, it means they are ignoring or disregarding it. This can be seen as a parallel to "brush by" because in both cases, there is a sense of narrowly avoiding or not engaging with something undesirable or unwanted.

The idiom "brush down" is another expression that is connected to "brush by." To brush something down means to clean or tidy it by sweeping away dust, dirt, or other debris. This notion of cleaning or tidying up can be likened to the idea of "brushing by" a potentially harmful situation. In both cases, there is an action of clearing or moving away from something negative.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.